Jannik Sinner closes in on the Rome Masters title after crushing Andrey Rublev.
A dominant 6-2, 6-4 victory over his long-time rival Andrey Rublev propelled Jannik Sinner into the semi-finals of the 2026 Rome Masters as the top contender for the title.
Jannik Sinner continued to showcase his formidable power on clay at the Rome Masters 2026. The world number one needed only 1 hour and 32 minutes to defeat Andrey Rublev, maintaining his devastating form without losing a single set since the start of the tournament. This victory not only confirmed the Italian star's class but also demonstrated his excellent mental fortitude under pressure from the home crowd.
The absolute dominance from the very first games.
Entering the quarter-finals with a 7-3 head-to-head advantage, Sinner quickly imposed his style of play with powerful shots from the baseline. In the very first game of the first set, the Italian successfully broke Rublev's serve. Sinner's intelligent ball control kept his Russian opponent constantly on the defensive.
The second break in game 7 sealed the fate of the first set. Sinner closed out the first set with a decisive 6-2 lead after just 38 minutes of play. Statistics show that the world number one achieved a first serve win rate of 75%, completely dominating the match against Rublev, who is famous for his thunderous forehand.
The resilience of the world number one in a difficult moment.
The scenario in set 2 started similarly, with Sinner taking an early lead after breaking serve in games 1 and 5. However, a momentary lapse due to signs of fatigue allowed Rublev to break back in a game, narrowing the score gap. Nevertheless, that was all the Russian player could do in this match.
Showing the composure of a champion, Sinner quickly regained his focus to hold his remaining service games, securing a 6-4 victory in the second set. Sinner's break-point conversion rate was extremely high, with 4 successful attempts out of 5 opportunities, while Rublev only managed to capitalize on 1 out of 3 rare chances.
Match statistics table
| Parameter | Jannik Sinner | Andrey Rublev |
|---|---|---|
| Final score | 2 - 0 (6-2, 6-4) | 0 |
| Number of Aces | 4 | 1 |
| First serve winning percentage | 75% (21/28) | 50% (16/32) |
| Break point successful | 4/5 | 1/3 |
| Total winning points | 66 | 50 |
This convincing victory propels Jannik Sinner into the semi-finals, where he will face the winner of the match between Landaluce and Daniil Medvedev. Given his current form, Sinner is considered the strongest contender for the Rome Masters title this year.